The Islamic Center of America is located in Dearborn, Michigan and is the largest mosque in the United States [1]. The ICA opened in 1963 and moved facilities several times. Its current location opened in 2005 [2].
The founding Imam was Imam Jawad Chirri and from 1997 through 2015 Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini, who left amid controversy over the mosques finances, led ICA [3].
In the past, the mosque has hosted Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam as a guest speaker [4]. Farrakhan has a long history of anti-American, anti-Semitic, anti-white and conspiracy-filled preaching.
Former Imam, Al-Qazwini has boasted of his closeness to Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, a spiritual leader of Hezbollah. The mosque held a memorial service for Fadlallah when he died in 2010 [5].
Al-Qazwini has claimed that ISIS was created by Israel. In a YouTube sermon titled “Connection Between ISIS and Israel? – Imam Hassan Qazwini,” he states, “ISIS is playing the role of the arm of the Zionist in the Muslim world, to kill more Muslims and non-Muslims … The number one beneficiary of all of these atrocities, I tell you, is the Zionists, and it is the Zionist regime.” [6]
Al-Qazwini has claimed that Trump shares attributes similar to ISIS [7], Bernie Sanders was “an honorable man,Ă‚Â even though he is a Jew”Ă‚Â [8]; and that the French Government was creating a breeding ground for terrorism [9].
In May 2018, ICA hosted a delegation of 67 top-ranking student officers from the National Defense University for breakfast, as part of an interfaith effort. Several members of the mosque were outraged of the delegation was officer in the Israeli Defense Force and members distributed fliers stating, “Did you know Israeli military officers were welcomed at the Islamic Center of America?” The backlash prompted the mosques administration and Board of Trustees to post on their Facebook feed that they will “take the necessary measures to ensure that no Israeli military personnel will be received at the ICA in the future, as we continue our interfaith outreach program.” [10]
Sources:
[1] The Pluralism Project, “Islamic Center of America (CJ),” Harvard University, https://pluralism.org/profile/islamic-center-of-america-cj/ (Accessed June 6, 2018)
[2] Norris, Michele, “Largest U.S. Mosque Opens in Michigan,” NPR, May 12, 2005, https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4650047
[3] Warikoo, Niraj, “Dearborn mosque suspends Imam Al-Qazwini,” The Detroit Free Press, February 6, 2015, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2015/02/06/dearborn-mosque-suspends-imam-al-qazwini/23006129/
[5] Svirsky, Meira, “Michigan Governor to Speak at Extremist Islamist Conference,” Clarion Project, August 26, 2014, https://clarionprojstg.wpengine.com/michigan-governor-speak-extremist-islamist-conference-2/
[6] Ibid.
[7] Islamic Institute of America, “Connection Between ISIS and Israel? – Imam Hassan Qazwini,” YouTube, November 20, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTvbEy3UnpM&feature=youtu.be
[8] Islamic Institute of America, “Donald Trump: The ISIS of America – Imam Hassan Qazwini,” YouTube, December 11, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qar9AHAW_ec&feature=youtu.be
[9] Transcript, “Detroit Friday Sermon on U.S. Military Aid Package to Israel: The Pro-Israel Lobby Uses the United States as a Cash Cow,” MEMRI TV, September 15, 2016, https://www.memri.org/tv/detroit-friday-sermon-us-military-aid-package-israel-pro-israel-lobby-uses-united-states-cash-cow/transcript
[10] Transcript, “Detroit Friday Sermon on Burkini Ban: The French Government Is Creating Breeding Ground for Terrorism,” MEMRI TV, August 26, 2016, https://www.memri.org/tv/detroit-friday-sermon-burkini-ban-french-government-creating-breeding-ground-terrorism/transcript
[11] Warikoo, Niraj “Dearborn mosque considers banning Israeli military from entering,” Detroit Free Press, May 19, 2018, https://www.freep.com/story/news/2018/05/19/michigan-mosque-considers-banning-israeli-military-leaders/621708002/